Modular furniture embodying a common chassis and interchangeable styling features

ABSTRACT

MODULAR FURNITURE COMPOSED OF SEPARATELY FORMED PARTS INCLUDING A SKELETON CHASSIS, SUPPORTING LEGS, AND ORNAMENTAL SIDE AND TOP PANELS WHICH MAY BE ASSEMBLED TO PROVIDE A FINISHED ARTICLE OF FURNITURE, SUCH AS A TABLE, CABINET, CHEST, OR THE LIKE. THE FURNITURE PARTS ARE PREFERABLY INJECTION MOLDED OR HEAT FORMED FROM PLASTIC AND ARE CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED IN SUCH A WAY THAT DIFFERENT LEG AND PANEL CONFIGURATION TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF FURNITURE CHASSIS CONFIGURATION TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF FURNITURE STYLES ALL USING THE SAME BASIC CHASSIS CONFIGURATION.

Sept. 20, 1971 v. F. ANDERSON 3,605,510

MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1969 INVEN'IUR.

Maw

,477D/P/VEYS Sept. 20. 1911 v. F. ANDERSON 3,606,510

' MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYINGA COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Filed April 10, 1969 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W w 3m H% a w 6 w o 5 Q m n- 1|\ F m f M g 1. m i2 i M y 5 l IL? M\ were? A flwofmso/v IN VliN'l UR.

Madam-z drzww xs Sept. 20, 1971 v. F. ANDERSON 3,606,510 I MODULAR NITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND ERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Filed April 10, 1969 6 SheetsSheet 5 We 70/? F 41405950 INvu/v'nm Q04 QQIM Sept. 20, 1971 v. F. ANDERSON 3,606,510 MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Flled Apnl 10 969 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Sept. 20, 1971 v. F. ANDERSON 3,606,510

MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Filed April 10. 1969 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 0 dimz/ v. F. ANDERSON 3,606,510 MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Sept. 20, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 10, 1969 United Smtes Patent Ofiee MODULAR FURNITURE EMBODYING A COMMON CHASSIS AND INTERCHANGEABLE STYLING FEATURES Victor F. Anderson, Wenonah, N.J., assignor to Shell Oil Company, New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 815,119 Int. Cl. A47b 43/ 00, 47/00 US. Cl. 312-257 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to furniture, such as tables, cabinets, chests, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to novel modular furniture composed of separately formed parts which may be assembled to provide finished articles of furniture conforming to a variety of furniture styles but embodying the same basic chassis configuration.

Prior art There is an ever increasing demand for household furniture, such as tables, cabinets, chests, and the like, of all major furniture styles from the most simple modern styles to the most ornate provincial styles. Heretofore, such furniture has been fabricated from wooden parts which are shaped and carved by machine and then glued together to formv the finished article of furniture. At least as a general rule, the major parts of different furniture styles are not interchangeable in the sense that a particular major furniture part, such as a furniture chassis, might be used in a variety of different furniture styles. The advantage of such interchangeability, of course, would be a substantial cost saving.

The fact that the existing furniture is constructed of wooden parts which must be shaped and carved by machine constitutes a further disadvantage of the existing furniture. Thus, while machine shaping and carving is much faster and more economical than equivalent hand operations and accommodate furniture manufacture on a mass production basis, such manufacturing techniques are still relatively laborious and costly compared to other mass production techniques, such as molding and heat forming. As a consequence, relatively exotic or ornate furniture styles, such as the provincial styles, are quite costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unique modular furniture concept which enables most if not all major furniture styles, from the most simple modern styles to the most ornate provincial styles, to be economically mass produced. According to this inventive concept, each article of furniture is composed of a number of separate parts which may be readily joined to one another to form a unitary furniture structure. Preferably, at least most of these furniture parts are produced from plastic or other 3,606,510 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 suitable material by an injection molding process, a heat forming process, or other high rate low cost forming process. This use of molded or heat formed parts permits highly ornate shapes and surface features to be mass produced at minimum cost. Furniture of each given type, such as tables, cabinets, or chests, embodies a basic skeleton chassis and ornamental side and top panels, legs, and other styling parts to be applied to the chassis. The chassis may be injection molded or otherwise formed in one piece from plastic or comprise a number of separate members joined to one another. These legs and panels may be also injection molded or heat formed from plastic. The legs are attached to the chassis to support the latter on the floor, and the ornamental panels are attached to the bare sides and the top of the chassis to cover the latter and provide the furniture 'with the desired exterior styling. These furniture parts are so constructed and arranged that a variety of panel and leg configurations may be installed on a given chassis so as to provide many different furniture styles all using the same basic chassis configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an article of modular furniture according to the invention 'which, in this instance, is a sewing machine cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the cabinet with parts broken away and omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the cabinet chassis, taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 2 illustrating one method of attaching the legs to the chassis of the cabinet;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating an alternative method of attaching the legs to the chassis;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the cabinet chassis;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a modified modular article of furniture according to the invention which, in this instance, is a chest of drawers;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded top plan View of the chest of FIG. 9;

hFIG. 11 is a partially exploded front elevation of the c est;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 1.212 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through one end of the chassis;

FIG. 13a is a detail of certain portions of the structure shown in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 14 through 16 illustrate the method of attaching a decorative end panel to the chassis of the chest;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged section taken on line 17-17 in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 18 is a detail of an alternative supporting leg for the chest.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Those versed in the art will immediately recognize as the description proceeds that the present inventive concept may be embodied in various kinds or types of furniture, such as tables, chests, cabinets, and the like. FIGS. 18 illustrate a cabinet 10, in this instance a sewing ma chine cabinet, embodying the invention. The cabinet is composed of a number of separately formed parts including a skeleton chassis 12, supporting legs 14, ornamental side panels 16, 18, and 20, and a top panel 22.

The legs 14 are attached to the chassis 12 by furniture joints 24. Associated with each ornamental side panel are mating fastening means 26 on the panels and the chassis for joining the panels to the chassis. The top panel 22 may be secured to the top side of the chassis in any convenient way, as hereinafter explained.

According to one important preferred feature of the invention, at least a majority of the several furniture parts 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22 are fabricated from plastic by an injection molding or heat forming technique or by some other economical mass production forming or molding process. In the particular inventive embodiment illustrated, for example, the furniture chassis 12 is injection molded in one piece from plastic. The furniture legs 14 preferably comprise hollow molded plastic legs constructed in accordance with the disclosure of my copending application Ser. No. 797,616 filed Feb. 7, 1969, now abandoned, and entitled Bipartite Tubular Molded Plastic Furniture Part With Internal Reinforcement (1). The ornamental side panels 16, 18, and 20 may be injection molded or heat formed from plastic. Finally, the top panel 22 comprises a pair of hinged sections 22a, 22b each of which is injection molded from plastic. As noted earlier, fabrication of the present furniture from injection molded plastic parts, or the like, permits mass production of furniture parts of virtually any configuration and surface styling at minimum cost.

According to a further, highly unique and important feature of the invention, the several furniture parts 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 and the furniture joints 24 and fastening means 26 for joining these parts in assembled relation are so constructed and arranged as to permit a given chassis configuration to be assembled with supporting legs and ornamental panels of various designs so as to provide articles of furniture conforming to different major styles but all embodying the same basic furniture chassis configuration. It will be immediately recognized by those versed in the art that this concept achieves a substantial cost saving.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the chassis 12 of the illustrated sewing machine cabinet 10 comprises a one piece injection molded plastic part of generally open rectangular shape. The cassis includes side walls 28 and 30, end walls 32 and 33, and arcuate corner pieces 34 between and integrally joined to the adjacent ends of the side and end walls. It will be immediately evident to those versed in the art from the drawings that the illustrated furniture or cabinet chassis 12 is constructed and arranged to minimize the total quantity of material embodied in the chassis, facilitate removal of the chassis from the dies in which it is injection molded, and provide the chassis with minimum weight and maximum strength. In this regard, it will be observed that the side and end walls of the chassis are composed of spaced upright ribs 36 joined at their tops and bottoms by intervening panel sections 38 and 40. These panel sections are flanged along their edges, as shown, for strength. The adjacent ribs 36 and panel sections 38, 40 define rectangular openings 42 in the chassis walls. In the particular sewing machine cabinet configuration illustrated, the several chassis walls 28, 30, 32, and 33 are generally similar except that the vertical width of the front wall is somewhat less than that of the rear wall 28. Also the front wall 30 has an enlarged opening 42a.

The corner sections 34 of the cabinet chassis 12 include a pair of rear corner sections 34a and a pair of front corner sections 34b each having a generally hollow internally ribbed configuration, i.e., an essentially honeycomb configuration, of generally uniform wall thickness, as shown. The two rear corner sections 34a are similar and each includes an arcuate central portion 44 and outer portions 46 which extend along the vertical sides of and below the bottom of the central portion. The central portion 44 of each rear corner section has an outer convex seating face 48. The inner longitudinal sides of the outer portions 46 of each rear corner section 34a project radially outward beyond the seating face 48 to define shoulder surfaces 50. These outer portions of the rib corner sections also have outwardly presented planar seating surfaces 52.

The left hand front corner section 34b of the cabinet chassis 12, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 1, is similar to the rear corner sections 34a except that the right hand outer portion 46 of the latter front corner section is omitted and in its place is provided a seating face 5212 which merges tangentially with the convex seating face 48 of the corner section. The right hand front corner section is also similar to the rear corner sections except that the left hand outer portion 46- of the latter front corner section is omitted and in its place is provided a seating face 52b which merges tangentially with the convex seating face 48 of the corner section.

The two rearwardly presented planar seating faces 52 on the rear corner sections 34a of the cabinet chassis 12 are located in a common plane parallel to the front and rear cabinet walls 28, 30. The remaining planar seating faces 52 of the rear corner sections 34a and the corresponding planar seating faces 52 of the front corner sections 34b are located in common planes parallel to the cabinet end walls 32, 33. Finally, the forwardly presented planar seating faces 52b of the front corner sections are disposed in a common plane parallel to the front and rear cabinet walls. The convex seating faces 48 of all of the corner sections 34a, 34b face generally diagonally of the cabinet chassis 12.

As noted earlier, the legs 14 may be constructed of any material and may be fabricated in various ways. Preferably, however, these legs have a molded plastic construction similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application Ser. No. 797,616. Each leg has a recess in the inner side of its normally upper end which defines on the leg an inwardly presented concave seating face 54 and an upwardly presented shoulder 56. The seating face 54 and shoulder face 56 intersect the two innermost side faces 58 of the leg.

Each leg 14 is attached to a corner section 3411. or 3412 of the cabinet 12. Each leg is positioned relative to its respective corner section in such a way that the upper end of the leg is disposed between the confronting longitudinal shoulder surfaces on the corner section with the side faces 58 of the leg seating against the shoulder surfaces. The concave seating face 54 on each leg has the same radius of curvature as and seats fiush against the convex seating surface 48 of its respective corner section. The longitudinally presented shoulder 56 of each leg seats against the underside of the central portion 44 of its respective corner section to locate the leg longitudinally relative to its corner section. When the several legs 14 are properly installed on the cabinet 12, the upper end faces 60 of legs are located in a common plane which is faced slightly above the upper side of the cabinet chassis 12, as shown.

As noted earlier, each leg 14 is attached to the chassis 12 by a furniture joint 24. Various types of furniture joints may be employed for this purpose, depending on the particular kind of furniture involved and whether the legs are to be permanently attached to the chassis at the factory or attached later, perhaps by the user. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the furniture joints comprise releasable fastening means including threaded studs '62 projecting from the upper concave seating faces 58 of the legs and holes 64 extending through the central portions 44 of the cabinet chassis corner sections 34a, 34b for receiving the studs. Threaded on the inner ends of these studs are nuts 66 which may be tightened to securely attach the legs to the chassis. The portions of the corner sections through which the studs pass have increased wall thickness as required to withstand the loads applied to the sections by the stud nuts and the dead weight of chassis and parts (i.e. sewing machine, etc.) supported by the chassis. In the event the legs are to be permanently attached, the joints 24 may comprise pins 62a (FIG. 6) which are integrally joined to the legs and are bonded or otherwise permanently fixed in the chassis holes 64. Other types of permanent furniture joints may be employed on modular furniture according to the invention. Alternative types of permanent joint which may be used, for example, are disclosed in copending applications Ser. No. 677,153 filed Oct. 23, 1967 and entitled Prefabricated Plastic Chair and Assembly Method (2) now Pat. No. 3,455,605, and Ser. No. 816,711 filed Apr. 16, 1969 and entitled Furniture Joint (3).

With regard to the particular modular furniture selected for illustration, it will be understood that when the legs 14 are securely attached to the chassis 12, the upper side faces 58 of the legs abut the. shoulder surfaces 50 on the respective chassis corner sections 34a, 34b and the longitudinally presented shoulder surfaces 56 on the legs abut the undersides of the corner sections to effect positive load transfer between the legs and chassis in both the longitudinal and lateral directions of the legs.

The three ornamental side panels 16, 18 are generally similar and are mounted on the outer sides of the cabinet end walls 32, 33 and the cabinet rear wall 28. When mounted on the cabinet, the inner side of each panel seats against the planar seating faces 52 of the adjacent cabinet corner sections 34a, 34b. Each panel is longitudinally and laterally dimensioned to completely cover its respective cabinet wall from end to end and from bottom edge to top edge. The outer surfaces of the panels 16, 18 are embossed or otherwise provided with ornamental surface features or contours compatible with the desired furniture styling to be achieved as explained shortly. The particular furniture cabinet illustrated, for example, has a relatively simple modern styling. In this case, the cabinet legs 14 are tapered and curved but are devoid of any ornate scrollwork or the like. The outer surfaces of the ornamental panels 16, 18 are embossed to provide each panel with a simple rectangular border-like formation 16a.

It will be recalled that the cabinet .12 and the panels 16, 18 are provided with mating fastening means 26 for securing the panels to the cabinet. In this instance, the fastening means comprise pins 66 projecting from the inner sides of the panels and holes 68 which extend through the outer portions 46 of the cabinet corner sections 34a, 34b for receiving the pins. It is significant to recall here that the ornamental panels 16 are preferably injection molded or heat formed from plastic or other suitable material. Preferably, the panels are injection molded and the pins 66 are molded integral with the panels. The panels 16, 18 may be permanently secured to the cabinet 12 in any convenient way. Preferably, this is accomplished by making the panel pins 66 sufficiently long that they project a short distance beyond the inner ends of their receiving holes 68 in the cabinet 12 when the panels are installed in the cabinet and, after installation of the panels, staking the projecting ends of the pins by the application of heat and pressure. Alternative methods of attaching the panels to the cabinet are adhesive bonding and ultrasonic welding.

In the particular cabinet construction selected for illustration in the drawings, the front ornamental panel 20 is a hinged door. This door is attached to the front left hand cabinet corner section 34b in FIG. 1 by means of hinges 68. When closed, this door covers the entire front side of the cabinet 12 between the two front legs 14. Installed against the front side of the front cabinet wall 30, so as to obscure this wall when the cabinet door 20 is opened, is a metal or plastic plate 70. This plate seats against and is secured to the forwardly presented planar seating faces 52 of the front corner sections 34b. Extending through the plate is an opening 72 which is aligned with the opening 42a in the front cabinet wall 6 30 and provides access to the sewing machine bobbin (not shown).

As already noted, the top panel 22 of the illustrated sewing machine cabinet 10 comprises a pair of hinged panel members 22a, 22b. The lower panel member 22a forms the actual top panel of the cabinet 10 and seats against the projecting upper end faces 60 of the cabinet legs 14. This panel member is secured to the cabinet legs in any convenient way, as by adhesively bonding the panel to the legs. Extending through the panel member 22a is a rectangular opening 74 through which the sewing machine proper (not shown) may be rotated between a position of storage within the cabinet and a position of use on top of the panel member, in the well known way. Pivotally mounted within the opening 74 is a hinged plate 76 which supports the sewing machine in its upright position of use. When the sewing machine is in use, the upper panel member 22b is hinged to a retracted position at one side of and substantially flush with the lower panel member 22a. When the sewing machine is retracted to its position of storage Within the cabinet, the upper panel member may be hinged to a position on top ofthe lower panel member 22a so as to obscure the opening 74 in the lower panel member.

As noted earlier, an important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the several parts of the present modular furniture cabinet 10 are designed so that they may be injection molded or heat formed from plastic or other suitable material and then rapidly fitted together to provide the finished article of furniture. This use of molded plastic furniture parts which may be rapidly assembled and joined obviously reduces the furniture cost.

Another important feature of the invention which affects a further substantial cost saving resides in the fact that the supporting legs 14 and panels 16, 18, 20, and 22 which are attached to the cabinet chassis 12 may be provided with various external ornamental surface features and formations conforming to various major furniture styles. In this way, a variety of furniture styles, from the most simple modern styles to the most ornate provincial styles, may be fabricated using the same basic chassis configuration.

Turning now to FIGS. 9l7, there is illustrated modified modular furniture according to the invention. In this case, the article of furniture illustrated is a chest of drawers, hereinafter referred to simply as a chest. Chest 100 has a chassis 102. This chassis comprises several separately formed parts or frames, to wit a pair of end frames 104, a top frame 106, a bottom frame 108, and two drawer spacer frames 110. According to the preferred practice of the invention, these several frames are injection molded or otherwise formed of plastic or other suitable material. In this case, the several interconnecting truss sections of each frame are provided with channel shaped cross-sections, as shown in FIG. 17. The several cabinet frames 104, 106, 108, and may be jointed in various ways. In the particular embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the end frames 104 are provided with pairs of horizontal wall members 112 defining intervening inwardly opening horizontal channels or grooves 114. The corresponding grooves in the two end frames are aligned lengthwise of the cabinet 102. Projecting from opposite ends of each frame 106, 108, and 110 are ribs 116 terminating along their outer edges in upwardly directed flanges 118. The ribs and flanges are reinforced .at intervals by gussets 120. Each frame rib 116 and its flange 118 and reinforcing gusset 120 define a tongue 122 for engaging in the groove 114 of the adjacent chassis end frame 104.

The top and bottom frames 106, 108 and the drawer divider frames 110 and substantially identical in their construction and dimensions. It will now be understood, therefore, that the latter frames may be assembled with the chassis end frames 104 in such a Way that the tongues 122 on the frames 196, 108, and 110 fit within the grooves 114 in the end frames. The several frames are rigidly joined in any convenient way, as by adhesively bonding, ultrasonically welding, or solvent welding the interfitting frame tongues and grooves.

In addition to the chassis 102, the furniture chest 100 comprises a back cover panel 126, an ornamental top panel 128, ornamental end panels 130, front edge moldings 132 for the chassis frames 106, 108, and 110, and drawers 34. Some if not all of the latter furniture parts are preferably fabricated from plastic by an injection molding or heat forming technique. In this regard, it will be observed that the ornamental end panels 130 have an internally ribbed, honeycomb configuration of generally uniform wall thickness such that these panels may be provided with a desired surface contour, as shown. This panel configuration is only essential in achieving the line required to form a bomb, serpentine, bow or block front, or other similar furniture style and will normally be employed only in those areas where the furniture shape forms a surface which deviates from an essentially planar surface. For example, such a panel configuration may be used to advantage on tall case clocks as well as on certain styles of cabinets employing the unitary chassis configuration of FIGS. l-8.

The supporting legs 124 illustrated are generally sector shaped in transverse cross-section and have inwardly opening V-shaped channels or grooves 136 along their apex edges for receiving the vertical corner edges of the furniture chassis 102. The legs are secured to the chassis in any convenient way. For convenience, the legs have been illustrated as solid in cross-section. According to the preferred practice of the invention, however, these legs will comprise hollow molded plastic legs constructed in accordance with the disclosure in the earlier mentioned co-pending application (1) Ser. No. 797,616. FIG. 18 illustrates an alternative leg configuration 124a having a lower foot 1241; formed separately from the main leg column and secured to the latter by pin and socket means 124C. The rear cover panel 126 is secured to the rear side of the chassis 102 in order to prevent the entrance of dirt and dust into the furniture drawers 134 when the latter are installed in the chassis. This back panel covers the entire rear side of the chassis and is secured to the chassis in any convenient way. The top panel 128 seats on top of the chassis 102 and provides the ornamental top of the chest. The top panel is secured to the chassis in any convenient way. The ornamental end panels 130 seat against the end frames 104 of the chassis. While these end panels may be attached to the chassis in any convenient manner, such attachment is preferably accomplished by providing the end panels with protruding pins 138 which project through and beyond the inner ends of holes 140 in chassis end frames. These pins are integrally molded with the end panels and, after installation of the latter panels, are staked by the application of heat and pressure to the protruding ends of the pins. The moldings 132 have substantially the same width as the top, bottom, and drawer divider frames 106, 108, and 110 of the chassis 102. The moldings are secured to the front edges of the latter frames, as shown. The divider frames 110 are vertically spaced to receive the drawers 134 therebetween with a sliding fit. Accordingly, the drawers may he slid in and out between opened and closed positions. In accordance with conventional styling practice, the front edges of the moldings 132 and the front walls of the drawers 134 are provided with the same general shapes or curvatures.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the furniture chest just described possesses the same inherent advantages as the furniture cabinet described earlier. Thus, most if not all of the parts of the furniture chest may be formed from plastic by injection molding or heat forming process and may thereby be mass produced at minimum cost. In addition, the furniture chest may be provided with virtually any major furniture styling by simply using appropriately sound legs, end and top panels, moldings, and drawer fronts. The basic furniture chassis will remain the same, whereby a further substantial cost saving is achieved.

While it is preferred to use molded plastic parts in the present modular furniture concept, it will be readily understood by those versed in the art that the same inventive concept may be practiced with furniture parts consructed of virtually any material. It will further be evident that while the invention has been disclosed in connection with its application to one specific type of furniture cabinet and on specific type of furniture chest, the invention may be embodied in a variety of other types and styles of furniture. By way of example, the unitary chassis concept of FIGS. 1-8 may be utilized in consoles, cabinets and the like other than sewing machine cabinets, as Well as in tables, commodes, and other similar furniture articles of virtually any design from the very plain to the very ornate. Similarly, the modular chassis concept of FIGS. 9l8 may be utilized to produce a wide range of furniture types and styles, again varying in design from the very plain to the very ornate. With regard to the basic chest configuration illustrated, for example, the chassis frames 106, 108, may be varied in number, shape, and/or spacing to accept two or more drawers on the same level, shelves, doors, electrical equipment or the like. Also, the top frame 106 may be of reduced width relative to the other frames to provide a break or step in the front line. According to another possible design variation, a second chassis of narrow width but greater height may be mounted on top of the illustrated chassis to provide a chest-on-chest or a secretary desk. Alternatively, two chassis may be joined side by side at a common center frame 104 for use in various combinations of functional service. In this case, the center frame may have supporting legs.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. Modular furniture comprising:

an integral molded plastic skeleton chassis including normally upright wall members arranged end to end and corner sections between and integrally joined to the adjacent ends of said wall members,

each corner section having a pair of outwardly presented planar seating faces disposed in generally mutually perpendicular planes and an intervening seating face,

supporting legs for said chassis, said legs having upper seating faces contacting said intervening seating faces on said chassis,

means securing said legs to said chassis corner sections,

ornamental panels covering the outer sides of said chassis wall members between said legs, said panels having seating faces presented toward and contacting the planar seating faces on the adjacent chassis corner sections, and

means securing said panels to said chassis, whereby a variety of furniture styles may be produced using the same chassis configuration and different ornamental panel configurations.

2. Modular furniture according to claim 1 wherein:

said ornamental panels are molded from plastic, and

said panel fastening means comprise integrally molded pins projecting from the inner sides of said panel and holes in the adjacent planar seating faces of said chassis receiving said pins.

3. Modular furniture according to claim 2 including:

a decorative top panel extending across the top of said chassis, and means securing said top panel to said chassis.

4. Modular furniture according to claim 3 wherein:

said intervening seating face of each channel corner section is bounded along its longitudinal sides by confronting shoulder surfaces on the respective corner section engaging opposite side faces of the respective supporting leg, and each leg has an upwardly presented shoulder surface engaging the underside of its respective chassis corner section, whereby each leg is positively positioned longitudinally and laterally relative to said chassis.

5. Modular furniture comprising:

a rigid molded plastic chassis including a number of separate molded plastic frames joined edge to edge,

said chassis having a to and sides,

molded plastic side and top panels covering said chassis sides and top, respectively,

molded plastic supporting legs for said chassis, and

means securing said panels to said chassis and means securing said legs to said chassis, whereby a variety of furniture styles may be produced using the same basic chassis configuration and different ornamental leg and panel configurations.

6. Modular furniture according to claim 5 wherein:

said furniture comprises a chest,

said chassis is open at its front and includes horizontal top and bottom frames, vertical end frames, and a number of horizontal drawer divider frames between said top and bottom frames, and

drawers slidable within the spaces defined between said top, bottom, and divider frames.

7. Modular furniture according to claim '6 wherein:

said frames have an open truss-like configuration including generally channel shaped truss sections opening toward one side of the respective frames, whereby said frames may be injection molded,

said end frames include pairs of spaced horizontal wall members defining inwardly opening grooves aligned with said top, bottom, and divider frames, and

said top, bottom, and divider frames each include ribs projecting longitudinally from the end thereof and terminating in upstanding flanges defining with said rib tongues at the ends of said latter frames, and

said tongues fitting snugly within said end frame grooves.

8. Modular furniture according to claim 5 wherein:

said side panels have an essentially hollow internally ribbed configuration of generally uniform wall thickness and each includes a contoured outer wall.

9. Modular furniture comprising:

an integral molded plastic skeleton chassis having a plurality of generally flat wall members joined to-- gether to form at least a partial enclosure, a corresponding plurality of ornamental panels each of which is adapted to cover one side of a corresponding wall member, each said wall member having seating faces on its ends and each corresponding panel having mating seating faces, and means for securing each of said panels to the corresponding wall member;

and wherein at least one of said wall members includes spaced parallel ribs joined at their ends by intervening panel sections, there being an opening between the panel section joining one end of said ribs and the panel section joining the other end of said ribs;

the corresponding panel serving to hid said wall member openings.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the said securing means comprise pins projecting from the seating faces of each of said panels and holes formed in the corresponding seating faces of said wall members.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein each of said panel sections has a flange along one edge for increased strength.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said panel sections are disposed intermediate to the longitudinal edges of said ribs, and in each pair of panel sections lying between a particular pair of ribs there is one panel section whose flange projects outward to one longitudinal edge of said ribs while the other panel section has its flange projecting outward to the oposite longitudinal edge of said ribs.

13. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein each of said openings is of generally rectangular configuration.

14. A frame member for modular furniture, integrally formed of rigid molded plastic material, having parallel end pieces and interconnecting side pieces arranged in a generally rectangular configuration and at least one brace extending therebetween;

at least some of said end pieces, side pieces, and brace having a channel-shaped configuration with the channel bottoms lying in a common plane;

and further including a pair of tongues attached to the outer edges of respective ones of said end pieces and extending therealong;

each said tongue including a laterally projecting frame rib, a flange extending perpendicularly from the projecting edge of said rib, and a plurality of reinforcing gussets disposed at spaced intervals lying perpendicular to and interconnecting the walls of the side member, the frame rib, and the flange.

15. A frame member as claimed in claim 14 wherein said end pieces are of channel-shaped configuration, and the hollow interiors of said end pieces and the hollow interiors of their associated tongues open in mutually opposite directions.

16. A modular chest comprising:

a chassis including parallel top and bottom frames, a plurality of horizontal drawer divider frames disposed between and parallel to said top and bottom frames, and a pair of vertical end frames to which the ends of said top frame, divider frames, and bottom frame are attached;

each of the frames of said chassis being separately molded of plastic material;

molded plastic side and top panels covering said chassis sides and top, respectively; and

means securing said panels to said chassis, whereby a variety of furniture styles may be produced using the same basic chassis configuration and different panel configurations;

each of said end frames being of thin walled, generally hollow construction, and being provided with pairs of horizontal wall members which define inwardly opening horizontal channels, the ends of said top frame, divider frames, and bottom frame being pro vided with tongues which are received in respective channels of said end frames.

17. Aparatus as in claim 16 wherein each of said frame tongues is a thin walled, generally hollow structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,946,639 7/ 1960 Stanton 312--204X 3,222,116 12/1965 Levenberg 312111X 3,410,621 11/1968 Schreyer 312-257 3,494,308 2/ 1970 Perrin 312-204X JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner 

